“Story of an Hour” – Kate Chopin
“Story of an Hour” – Kate Chopin
1. What is the nature of Mrs. Mallard's "heart trouble," and why would the author
mention it in the first paragraph? Is there any way in which this might be
considered symbolic or ironic?
1. What is the nature of Mrs. Mallard's "heart trouble," and why would the author
mention it in the first paragraph? Is there any way in which this might be
considered symbolic or ironic?
2. The setting of the story is very limited; it is confined largely to a room, a
staircase, and a front door. How does this limitation help to express the themes
of the story?
2. The setting of the story is very limited; it is confined largely to a room, a
staircase, and a front door. How does this limitation help to express the themes
of the story?
3. In what ways is this passage significant? "She could see in the open square
before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life.
The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was
crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing
reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves." What
kinds of sensory images does this passage contain, and what senses does it
address? What does the vision through the open window mean to her? Where
else does she taste, smell, or touch something intangible in the story?
3. In what ways is this passage significant? "She could see in the open square
before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life.
The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was
crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing
reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves." What
kinds of sensory images does this passage contain, and what senses does it
address? What does the vision through the open window mean to her? Where
else does she taste, smell, or touch something intangible in the story?
4. What kind of relationships do the Mallards have? Is Brently Mallard unkind to
Louise Mallard, or is there some other reason for her saying "free, free, free!"
when she hears of his death? How does she feel about him?
4. What kind of relationships do the Mallards have? Is Brently Mallard unkind to
Louise Mallard, or is there some other reason for her saying "free, free, free!"
when she hears of his death? How does she feel about him?
5. Mrs. Mallard closes the door to her room so that her sister Josephine cannot
get in, yet she leaves the window open. Why does Chopin make a point of
telling the reader this? How might this relate to the idea of being "free" and to
the implicit idea that she is somehow imprisoned? Do other words in the story
relate to this idea?
5. Mrs. Mallard closes the door to her room so that her sister Josephine cannot
get in, yet she leaves the window open. Why does Chopin make a point of
telling the reader this? How might this relate to the idea of being "free" and to
the implicit idea that she is somehow imprisoned? Do other words in the story
relate to this idea?
6. What does Josephine represent in the story? What does Richards represent?
6. What does Josephine represent in the story? What does Richards represent?
7. Mrs. Mallard is described as descending the stairs "like a goddess of Victory."
In what ways does she feel herself victorious?
7. Mrs. Mallard is described as descending the stairs "like a goddess of Victory."
In what ways does she feel herself victorious?
8. The last line of the story is this: "When the doctors came they said she had
died of heart disease-of joy that kills." In what ways is this an ironic statement?
What is gained by having the doctors make such a statement rather than putting
it in the mouths of Josephine or Richards?
8. The last line of the story is this: "When the doctors came they said she had
died of heart disease-of joy that kills." In what ways is this an ironic statement?
What is gained by having the doctors make such a statement rather than putting
it in the mouths of Josephine or Richards?
9. What view of marriage does the story present? The story was published in
1894; does it only represent attitudes toward marriage in the nineteenth century,
or could it equally apply to attitudes about marriage today?
9. What view of marriage does the story present? The story was published in
1894; does it only represent attitudes toward marriage in the nineteenth century,
or could it equally apply to attitudes about marriage today?
10. If this is, in some sense, a story about a symbolic journey, where does Mrs.
Mallard "travel"?
10. If this is, in some sense, a story about a symbolic journey, where does Mrs.
Mallard "travel"?